Airdate: Monday, November 11, 2002
Sender: Mike, Canada; Matt; Jess and Tiff, Los Angeles CA; Scott, Surrey BC Canada
In honor of this, his 50th email, Strong Bad tries to answer 50 emails in a single sitting. The first is from Mike from Canada, who wants Strong Bad to write a book of comeback jokes.
Next up is Matt, who wants to know if "Stong Bad" knows any cool alternate ways to spell words, like "fat = phat".
Next, Jess and Tiff from Los Angeles want to know what's Strong Bad's "favorite leg".
As Strong Bad goes off to take a phone call, Homestar Runner shows up to return Strong Bad's fondue pot that he borrowed. On seeing the unoccupied Compy ("That TV has words on it"), Homestar decides to take over answering emails for a bit.
Next up is an email from Scott, who's asking the age-old question of how Strong Bad types with boxing gloves for hands. Homestar knows what to do... but not quite how to do it.
As Strong Bad continues his phone call, which apparently involves some shady dealings ("I'll leave the key under the at-may."), Homestar struggles to remember "that stupid word". Unfortunately, after dozens of failed attempts, the Compy suffers a "Flagrant System Error".
Strong Bad returns to the Compy to find "Everything is fine, nothing is ruined"... according to the hastily-drawn fake system message Homestar left on the screen of the crashed Compy. Strong Bad quickly sees through the ruse, though.
(Fade In on a live-action Swiss Cake Roll with a "50" candle on it. The Paper comes down)
Tropes
- Accidental Misnaming: Strong Bad gives Matt an earful over spelling his name as "Stong Bad".
- Big "WHAT?!": Strong Bad, when he sees the Paper appearing after he sees the Flagrant System Error screen.
- Borrowed Catchphrase: Homestar tries (and fails) to delete the fourth e-mail. "Baleeted! What? Oh, um... delteated! No? Uh... Del Taco? ...What is that stupid word?"
- Continuity Nod:
- One of Strong Bad's favorite legs is "tape-leg".
- The Flagrant System Error message on the Compy has "The system is down" on it.
- Epic Fail: Homestar trying to delete the fourth e-mail. He makes so many wrong attempts, he ends up giving Strong Bad's computer a "flagrant system error".
- Everyone Has Standards: Homestar's not the only one who dislikes emails that ask Strong Bad about typing with boxing gloves on.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: There's a few brief seconds where you can see Homestar's dozens of attempts at typing "deleted", including "da cheated", "del monte", "stupid word", and "De La Soul".
- Key Under the Doormat: While talking on the phone, Strong Bad tells the other party, "I'll leave the key under the at-may."
- Newhart Phone Call: Strong Bad takes a phone call that distracts him from answering emails. He seems to be plotting to sell Strong Sad's legs ("they're more like elephant feet") for fifty bucks.
- No, You: When one email asks if he can write a book about comeback jokes, Strong Bad retorts, "More like you write a book about comeback jokes, NERD!"
- Orphaned Set Up: Strong Bad's anecdote about why he's so awesome starts with The Cheat walking down the street, but we don't hear the rest as the cartoon fades out.
- Shaped Like Itself: Homestar asks "What is that stupid word?" to himself while typing attempts at Strong Bad's "deleted". One of the phrases on the screen is "stupid word".
- Snarky Inanimate Object: The Compy's "Flagrant System Error" screen reads "I dunno what you did, moron, but you sure screwed everything up good."
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: Homestar writes a fake system message that says "This is real. System Report: Everything is fine. Nothing is ruined." It doesn't work for long.
- Telegraph Gag STOP: Old Timey Strong Bad in the Easter egg.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Homestar's repeated attempts to delete the fourth e-mail cause the computer to crash, prompting Homestar to mutter "This does not look good for Homestar Runner."
(The Sneak enters)
Old-Timey Strong Bad: The Sneak! How was that? I told that poor sap I'd give him what's for! Yes... now go and steal me fresh jam!
